Retirement Security

March 5, 2022

Ask Ric: What’s the Outlook for Bonds in My Portfolio?

A 55/45 Portfolio May Need to be Rebalanced, Depending on Your Time Horizon

Joel from Long Island: I've been a huge fan of yours for decades, having read most of your books and seen and heard all of your shows, thank you so much for everything that you've done with regard to a typical portfolio and retirement of, say, 55 percent equities and 45 percent bonds. How do you suggest one handles the bond portion of the portfolio going forward? We are still looking at a 30 year time horizon, so should we continue to rebalance with this in mind? Or do you foresee other long term changes in asset allocation for people in retirement? Furthermore, I know you're very bullish, perhaps with regard to cryptocurrency. Do you truly see a place in cryptocurrency in a retirement portfolio of even one percent? I'm anxious to hear your reply. Thank you so much for your time.

Ric: Joel, thanks for your questions and your kind words as well. I'm very negative on the bond market these days. I think everybody is for the simple reason that interest rates are very low and rising, and as interest rates go up, the value of bonds goes down. Now, if you have a 30-year outlook, glad that you do. You could argue that this too shall pass over 30 years. It's reasonable that interest rates may return to where they were, but is that reasonable? Interest rates never hit as low as they did in the past 10 years. If interest rates never go back down to where they were, then the bond prices will never go up to where they were.

In other words, the losses that exist in the bond market, the losses that may yet occur from further increases in rates could become permanent. So I'm not sure if it is worth to keep long-term bonds in a portfolio right now, especially since further losses are anticipated due to further increases in interest rates. I don't know what you should do other than talk with your financial advisor about it. I can tell you what I'm doing. I don't own any bonds. Jean and I got rid of all of ours because we just don't see how the case is justified, not only from the risk of loss, but from the incredible low return that they're probably going to deliver compared to other asset classes over the next five, 10, 20 years, particularly not just the broad stock market, but more specifically exponential technologies and even more specifically than that, blockchain and digital assets.

The One Percent Allocation in Crypto Assets

So for all those reasons, I'm not sure that it makes a huge amount of sense. There are other ways to get income producing investments into your portfolio that are at least as good as the prospects that you might get from the bond market. There are so many income building strategies. Any good financial advisor should be able to relate all of that to you based on your circumstances. As for crypto, as part of your retirement portfolio? Sure. A one percent allocation, I think, makes a great deal of sense, regardless of age. This is the newest asset class, the first new one since oil was discovered in Texas in the 1850s. So sure, adding one percent, maybe two percent of a portfolio to this asset class. I don't see any reason why not to do that. So, talk with your financial advisor to see what is applicable makes most sense and is in your best interest for your circumstance.

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Jillian DelSignore

Global Head of Investor Distribution Strategy | Nasdaq Global Indexes

Jillian DelSignore, CIMA, is Global Head of Investor Distribution Strategy, Indexes at Nasdaq.

Prior to joining Nasdaq, Jillian was Head of ETFs & Indexing at FLX Distribution. FLX is a first of its kind technology platform that brings together asset managers, distribution professionals, wealth managers, and advisors.

Before and during her time at FLX, she was the Principal of Lakefront Advisory advising financial services firms on accelerating their growth through initiating, scaling or changing their distribution strategy. Given her depth of experience in the ETF industry, she also helps her clients demystify the ETF ecosystem by advising on the intricacies of that market.

Before starting Lakefront Advisory, Jillian was Head of ETF Distribution with J.P.Morgan’s Asset Management business. She was responsible for leading the sales and distribution efforts and strategy in the intermediary and institutional markets.

She also serves on the Board of Women in ETFs (WE), Inc, the first women’s group for the ETF industry, and served as Co-President from 2017-2019. Founded in 2014, WE achieves the mission to connect, support and inspire by organizing events globally that support our goals of education, networking, philanthropy.

Before joining J.P.Morgan in September 2015, Jillian was a Strategic Account Manager within BlackRock's iShares ETF Institutional Asset Management Group. She was responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with institutional investors, including boutique asset managers, global institutional asset managers, hedge funds and registered investment advisory firms.

Prior to joining iShares in March, 2009, Ms. DelSignore worked in the Independent Advisory Channel of Goldman Sachs Asset Management covering GSAM mutual funds, separate accounts, retirement plans, and alternative investments. She joined Goldman Sachs in 2005. Earlier, Ms. DelSignore worked in both the Institutional Corporate Cash and Global Bank Divisions at Federated Investors from 2000-2005.

Ms. DelSignore has a B.A. in Communications from John Carroll University and an M.B.A degree in Finance from the Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh. She earned her CIMA designation from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and holds the Series 3, 6, 7, 24 and 66 licenses.

Jillian DelSignore

Global Head of Investor Distribution Strategy | Nasdaq Global Indexes

Jillian DelSignore, CIMA, is Global Head of Investor Distribution Strategy, Indexes at Nasdaq.

Prior to joining Nasdaq, Jillian was Head of ETFs & Indexing at FLX Distribution. FLX is a first of its kind technology platform that brings together asset managers, distribution professionals, wealth managers, and advisors.

Before and during her time at FLX, she was the Principal of Lakefront Advisory advising financial services firms on accelerating their growth through initiating, scaling or changing their distribution strategy. Given her depth of experience in the ETF industry, she also helps her clients demystify the ETF ecosystem by advising on the intricacies of that market.

Before starting Lakefront Advisory, Jillian was Head of ETF Distribution with J.P.Morgan’s Asset Management business. She was responsible for leading the sales and distribution efforts and strategy in the intermediary and institutional markets.

She also serves on the Board of Women in ETFs (WE), Inc, the first women’s group for the ETF industry, and served as Co-President from 2017-2019. Founded in 2014, WE achieves the mission to connect, support and inspire by organizing events globally that support our goals of education, networking, philanthropy.

Before joining J.P.Morgan in September 2015, Jillian was a Strategic Account Manager within BlackRock's iShares ETF Institutional Asset Management Group. She was responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with institutional investors, including boutique asset managers, global institutional asset managers, hedge funds and registered investment advisory firms.

Prior to joining iShares in March, 2009, Ms. DelSignore worked in the Independent Advisory Channel of Goldman Sachs Asset Management covering GSAM mutual funds, separate accounts, retirement plans, and alternative investments. She joined Goldman Sachs in 2005. Earlier, Ms. DelSignore worked in both the Institutional Corporate Cash and Global Bank Divisions at Federated Investors from 2000-2005.

Ms. DelSignore has a B.A. in Communications from John Carroll University and an M.B.A degree in Finance from the Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh. She earned her CIMA designation from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and holds the Series 3, 6, 7, 24 and 66 licenses.

Tom Balcom CFP®, CAIA, MBA

Founder | 1650 Wealth Management

Tom began his career in the financial services industry in 1998, working at two of the nation’s largest brokerage firms. His passion for educating and protecting his clients’ wealth developed as he witnessed novice investors entrusting their life savings to “financial advisors” whose top priority was meeting their monthly sales quotas.

Tom aspired to differentiate himself from the crowd. He earned an MBA degree with a Specialization in Investments from the University of Miami in 2000 and became a fee-only, independent, registered investment advisor at a private wealth management firm in Miami. Tom earned the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation in 2003 and the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation in 2005.

In 2010, after gaining over a decade of private wealth management experience, Tom took his passion for educating and protecting his clients’ wealth and founded 1650 Wealth Management. 1650 Wealth Management is a fee-only, independent, private wealth management investment advisor. Tom neither sells investment products nor does he receive sales commissions. Tom focuses on actively managing and creating custom investment management strategies with the goal of protecting and growing his clients’ wealth.

Tom has spent a majority of his career studying and investing in alternative investments. He has spoken at numerous industry conferences including: Structured Products Americas Conference, MTN-I Structured Products Conference, Super Bowl of Indexing Conference, Innovative Alternative Strategies Conference, North American Structured Products Conference, Forum on Alternative Investments, Retail Alternative Investments, Private Wealth Southeast Forum, and the Financial Planning Association of Miami.

He is a contributing guest contributor for the Structured Products Daily publication and has been interviewed by top news and financial publications including: Bloomberg Businessweek, New York Times, CNBC, Investment News, Daily Business Review, CNNMoney.com, Registered Rep, SmartMoney, Forbes, Robb Report, Worth, Structured Retail Products, NerdWallet.com, SunSentinel.com, Florida Trend Magazine and the South Florida Business Journal.

He previously was as an adjunct professor within Barry University’s Personal Financial Planning program and in 2014, Tom was asked to serve as an expert witness on behalf of the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board).

Originally from Nashua, New Hampshire, Tom has made South Florida his home for nearly 30 years. Tom and his family reside in Lighthouse Point, Florida. On the weekends, you may find Tom golfing (or attending his daughter’s junior golf tournaments), traveling, spending time with his family and actively supporting the University of Miami’s football and basketball teams.

Tom Balcom CFP®, CAIA, MBA

Founder | 1650 Wealth Management

Tom began his career in the financial services industry in 1998, working at two of the nation’s largest brokerage firms. His passion for educating and protecting his clients’ wealth developed as he witnessed novice investors entrusting their life savings to “financial advisors” whose top priority was meeting their monthly sales quotas.

Tom aspired to differentiate himself from the crowd. He earned an MBA degree with a Specialization in Investments from the University of Miami in 2000 and became a fee-only, independent, registered investment advisor at a private wealth management firm in Miami. Tom earned the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation in 2003 and the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation in 2005.

In 2010, after gaining over a decade of private wealth management experience, Tom took his passion for educating and protecting his clients’ wealth and founded 1650 Wealth Management. 1650 Wealth Management is a fee-only, independent, private wealth management investment advisor. Tom neither sells investment products nor does he receive sales commissions. Tom focuses on actively managing and creating custom investment management strategies with the goal of protecting and growing his clients’ wealth.

Tom has spent a majority of his career studying and investing in alternative investments. He has spoken at numerous industry conferences including: Structured Products Americas Conference, MTN-I Structured Products Conference, Super Bowl of Indexing Conference, Innovative Alternative Strategies Conference, North American Structured Products Conference, Forum on Alternative Investments, Retail Alternative Investments, Private Wealth Southeast Forum, and the Financial Planning Association of Miami.

He is a contributing guest contributor for the Structured Products Daily publication and has been interviewed by top news and financial publications including: Bloomberg Businessweek, New York Times, CNBC, Investment News, Daily Business Review, CNNMoney.com, Registered Rep, SmartMoney, Forbes, Robb Report, Worth, Structured Retail Products, NerdWallet.com, SunSentinel.com, Florida Trend Magazine and the South Florida Business Journal.

He previously was as an adjunct professor within Barry University’s Personal Financial Planning program and in 2014, Tom was asked to serve as an expert witness on behalf of the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board).

Originally from Nashua, New Hampshire, Tom has made South Florida his home for nearly 30 years. Tom and his family reside in Lighthouse Point, Florida. On the weekends, you may find Tom golfing (or attending his daughter’s junior golf tournaments), traveling, spending time with his family and actively supporting the University of Miami’s football and basketball teams.

Tom Balcom CFP®, CAIA, MBA

Founder | 1650 Wealth Management

Tom began his career in the financial services industry in 1998, working at two of the nation’s largest brokerage firms. His passion for educating and protecting his clients’ wealth developed as he witnessed novice investors entrusting their life savings to “financial advisors” whose top priority was meeting their monthly sales quotas.

Tom aspired to differentiate himself from the crowd. He earned an MBA degree with a Specialization in Investments from the University of Miami in 2000 and became a fee-only, independent, registered investment advisor at a private wealth management firm in Miami. Tom earned the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation in 2003 and the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation in 2005.

In 2010, after gaining over a decade of private wealth management experience, Tom took his passion for educating and protecting his clients’ wealth and founded 1650 Wealth Management. 1650 Wealth Management is a fee-only, independent, private wealth management investment advisor. Tom neither sells investment products nor does he receive sales commissions. Tom focuses on actively managing and creating custom investment management strategies with the goal of protecting and growing his clients’ wealth.

Tom has spent a majority of his career studying and investing in alternative investments. He has spoken at numerous industry conferences including: Structured Products Americas Conference, MTN-I Structured Products Conference, Super Bowl of Indexing Conference, Innovative Alternative Strategies Conference, North American Structured Products Conference, Forum on Alternative Investments, Retail Alternative Investments, Private Wealth Southeast Forum, and the Financial Planning Association of Miami.

He is a contributing guest contributor for the Structured Products Daily publication and has been interviewed by top news and financial publications including: Bloomberg Businessweek, New York Times, CNBC, Investment News, Daily Business Review, CNNMoney.com, Registered Rep, SmartMoney, Forbes, Robb Report, Worth, Structured Retail Products, NerdWallet.com, SunSentinel.com, Florida Trend Magazine and the South Florida Business Journal.

He previously was as an adjunct professor within Barry University’s Personal Financial Planning program and in 2014, Tom was asked to serve as an expert witness on behalf of the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board).

Originally from Nashua, New Hampshire, Tom has made South Florida his home for nearly 30 years. Tom and his family reside in Lighthouse Point, Florida. On the weekends, you may find Tom golfing (or attending his daughter’s junior golf tournaments), traveling, spending time with his family and actively supporting the University of Miami’s football and basketball teams.